Rabbi Wikler Writes Cuomo On Kosher Law Inspectors

The following is an open letter written to Governor Andrew Cuomo by Rabbi Yosef Wikler, Editor of Kasrhus Magazine:

Dear Governor:

The time has come to review your position vis-à-vis New York State Kosher Law Enforcement. We need you to allocate funds to put at least some of the former inspectors back on the job of ensuring that the citizens of this great state are properly protected from fraudulent claims of kosher.

Why are we asking you to do this now? In the last eight months since you started serving your term, the following facts have come to light.

1. In the first 6 months since state safety inspectors were charged with “also” monitoring kosher disclosure, there were less than 5% of the inspections of the previous year.

2. This summer Federal Judge Nina Gershon issued a decision that New York’s kosher law is constitutional.

The constant fear the state had that the constitutionality of New York’s law may be proven unconstitutional inhibited both the department and the Attorney General. No fines for kosher were issued in over 3 years. All of this tended to make Kosher Law Enforcement an albatross of the state. All that has now changed.

Contrary to what the populace thinks, economics was not the reason why the former governor decided to completely dismantle Kosher Law Enforcement rather than to reduce it in kind with other reductions the state needed to make. It was the Commack challenge of the law.

Now we can go on. The men can return to their jobs and the state can offer those who choose to buy kosher the confidence that New York will help protect them from fraud.

At this very moment a legal case has been filed by the union to which the former New York State Kosher Law Enforcement personnel belonged challenging their dismissal on religious grounds. If they win, it will be a huge embarrassment for the state and may lead to a thorough investigation of the entire affair.

The Kosher Law Enforcement Bureau served the state admirably for decades. The fine work of Rabbi Shulem Rubin and his successor, Rabbi Luzer Weiss, has always brought credit and money in fines issued.

Bring back the staff to Kosher Law Enforcement and everyone in this state will reap the benefits of their dedicated work.

Rabbi Yosef Wikler
Editor, KASHRUS Magazine

To Contact Governor Andrew Cuomo and ask that he reinstate the staff of the Kosher Law Enforcement Bureau of New York State: write: The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of New York State, NYS State Capitol Building, Albany, NY 12224, or call (518) 474-8390, or email: http://www.governor.ny.gov/contact/GovernorContactForm.php.

4 COMMENTS

bringing back the kosher inspectors is a waste of tax payers money because in 20 years that the inspectors were doing a job they never once reported allegations or treif. Consumers have every right to know if there is a problem with a store,restaurant or chasunah hall.

What are inspectors there for if every time they find a problem they have no enforcemtn of shutting something down or telling you that it’s loshon horah to tell the public.

Let the few people find a different job where they can really make a difference.

#1, while you may have a point that they had no authority to shut down a place, and you may question why they didn’t report their findings to the us, the general publicm nevertheless there was a watchman and when there is a watchman, the freedom to do as one wishes is diminished. You can’t say that nothing is better. Let’s bring back the watchman and taakeh alot certain authoritarian powers if not at least the permission to report to the general publis. We all stand to benefit from such an agency; albeit with the appropriate corrections

I once stopped into a deli around Little Neck that advertised Kosher, and when I asked who their hashgucha was from, I was told “New York State.” this looks like a waste of political favors and an excuse for fraud.